May
19, 2008
For
Immediate Release:
Geo-Marine,
Inc. (GMI) is conducting Ocean/Windpower Baseline Ecological Studies for the
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Division of Science,
Research & Technology, in regards to potential wind farm development off
the New Jersey coast.
Saturday,
May 17, three of our employees were participating in an aerial marine mammal
survey associated with this study when the aircraft crashed. One of our
employees, Stephen Claussen of Seattle, WA, was killed in the accident.
The other two team members, Jacalyn Toth Brown and Juan Carlos Salinas, were
seriously injured and are undergoing treatment at AtlantiCare Regional Medical
Center in Atlantic City, NJ. The aircraft involved was owned by Ambroult
Aviation. John Ambroult (the pilot) was also killed in the crash.
Stephen
was a Marine Mammal Observer supporting our Wind Power Ecological Baseline
Studies for NJDEP. Jacalyn is a Marine Scientist from our Millville, NJ
office supporting our Wind Power Ecological Baseline Studies for NJDEP.
Juan Carlos is a Marine Mammal Observer supporting our Wind Power Ecological
Baseline Studies for NJDEP.
Our
thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends, and associates of those
involved in this tragic event. No words can express our sadness over this
loss.
GMI
extends its thanks to the FAA, the New Jersey State Police, and all local
responders for their support during the search and rescue efforts. We
continue to work with these parties and the NTSB to develop an understanding of
the facts that led to this tragic event.
For
more information please contact Mark Tanner, President and COO of GMI, at
972-423-5480 or mtanner@geo-marine.com.
************
Geo-Marine, Inc. is a Plano, TX based Environmental and
Engineering Services firm with seven office locations within the U.S. and
project locations world-wide.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Amy Whitt, M.E.M.
Marine Mammal Biologist
Geo-Marine, Inc.
awhitt@geo-marine.com
www.geo-marine.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~